Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger Announces Alzheimer's Diagnosis

Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, the pilot known for landing a US Airways plane in the Hudson River in 2009, announced on July 14, 2026, that he has been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer's disease. In a statement, Sullenberger, 75, shared that the diagnosis means he may experience memory difficulties and sleep issues but emphasized that he is at the beginning of a long journey. He noted that Alzheimer's affects many people and described it as an 'unwanted visitor at the door.' Sullenberger decided to publicly share his diagnosis to provide comfort to other families facing similar challenges. He expressed hope that his openness would encourage others to speak about their experiences with the disease. Sullenberger gained fame for the emergency landing on January 15, 2009, after birds struck the plane's engines, resulting in no casualties among the 155 passengers and crew. He retired from US Airways in 2010 after a 30-year career as a commercial pilot.